[Nutritional status of full-time students at public schools. São Paulo, Brazil]

The nutritional status and some of their conditioning factors of 257 students from 7 to 13 years of age registered at the Integrated Public Education Centers--CIEP's in American, state of São Paulo, are analyzed. Height of students is used to determine the nutritional status, with the classification based on standard deviation units (height/age Z score). A 15.6% ratio of, children with chronic malnutrition (HAZ < -2) is observed. Statistical analysis shows that the child's height for age Z score is influenced by per captia family income and attendance today-care centers during preschool age, among other variables. That shows the importance of life conditions prior to the child's entry to CIEP and which have certainly affected his growth throughout periods when a child is biologically most vulnerable.